Strike: No work, no pay, FG warns ASUU
The federal government yesterday warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against disrupting academic activities with the nationwide strike it planned to commence today. The government warned that it would invoke its no-work-no-pay policy should the union embarked on strike. Earlier during a press conference at the University of Abuja yesterday, ASUU President, Professor […]
The federal government yesterday warned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) against disrupting academic activities with the nationwide strike it planned to commence today.
The government warned that it would invoke its no-work-no-pay policy should the union embarked on strike.
Earlier during a press conference at the University of Abuja yesterday, ASUU President, Professor Chris Piwuna, said all the union’s branches nationwide had been directed to commence a full withdrawal of their services beginning at midnight today.
He said the decision to begin the warning strike became imperative following the government’s failure to meet the union’s demands.
He said there had been no meaningful progress to prevent the union from moving forward with its planned strike.
Piwuma noted that the 14-day notice, which was issued on September 28, 2025, had lapsed without any substantial response from the relevant authorities.
He warned that after the two-week warning strike, if the government still failed to act, the union would proceed on a total and comprehensive strike.
He said the union’s action was aimed at drawing attention to the government’s persistent refusal to implement agreements and address critical issues affecting Nigerian universities.
“It is regrettable to note that nothing significant has happened since our last briefing on the eight issues in dispute,” he said.
ASUU’s demands
The union is, among other things, demanding conclusion and signing of the renegotiated 2009 agreement with the government; payment of the withheld three-and-a-half months’ salaries of its members; sustainable funding and revitalisation of public universities; an end to the victimisation of lecturers of the Lagos State University, the Kogi State University (now Prince Abubakar Audu University) and the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).
Other demands are settlement of the outstanding 25–35 per cent salary arrears; payment of promotion arrears spanning over four years and release of withheld third-party deductions such as cooperative contributions and union dues.
The ASUU president said that despite several appeals and assurances from government officials, including a letter dated September 30, 2025, from the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education, nothing tangible had been achieved.
He disclosed that the outcome of an emergency meeting of the FGN/ASUU 2009 Agreement Renegotiation Committee held on October 10 was disappointing, describing the documents presented by the government as “provocative and inconsistent” with previous drafts.
“The hurriedly packaged documents were a total departure from the spirit of the Nimi Briggs-led renegotiated agreement and incapable of dousing industrial tension across campuses,” he said.
He accused the government of bad faith and deliberate delay tactics, saying that months of negotiation had yielded no results.
“It is a betrayal of historic responsibility if we continue to fall for the government’s deception and manipulation. What is needed is the fundamental transformation of our university system, not token promises,” he said.
The ASUU leader said the union appealed for understanding from students, parents and the public, stressing that its struggle was aimed at saving Nigeria’s university system from collapse.
“We invite patriotic Nigerians, workers, media practitioners, and civil society activists to join ASUU in this transformational mission,” the statement added.
“ASUU’s National Executive Council (NEC) has directed all its branches nationwide to withdraw their services effective 12:01 a.m. on Monday, October 13, 2025,” the ASUU president stated.
Reacting to the declaration of the warning strike by the ASUU, the government, through a joint statement last night by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa and the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmed, said it would be guided by its no-work-no-pay policy.
The statement reaffirmed the government’s commitment to resolving ASUU’s grievances through dialogue.
“The federal government has demonstrated demonstrable sincerity, patience, and goodwill in its dialogue with the Union,” the statement read.
It noted that most of ASUU’s concerns, such as increased teaching allowances and improved conditions of service, have been addressed.
The statement said other issues fall under the jurisdiction of university governing councils which have been reconstituted to handle them.
“Despite these efforts, ASUU has opted for strike. This action does not reflect a spirit of cooperation or fairness to the students and the public,” the statement read in part.
It said the government had met its deadline for presenting its position, adding that under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the government emphasised its priority to maintain academic stability.
“The ‘no work, no pay’ policy remains an extant labour law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the government will be guided by this law should academic activities be disrupted,” the statement said.
It urged the ASUU to reconsider its stance and return to dialogue, stressing that “government remains open to engagement at any level to prevent unnecessary disruption in the education sector.”
Our members won’t go on strike – CONUA
Meanwhile, the Congress of University Academics (CONUA), a breakaway faction of ASUU, has maintained that it had no issue with the government to declare a trade dispute.
It would be recalled that during an industrial action by the ASUU that lasted almost one year in 2022, the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari had in October 2022 registered the CONUA and the National Association of Medical and Dental Academics (NAMDA) to rival the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA).
The then Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, while conveying the approval to the leadership of the two unions at a meeting in Abuja, said the move will help liberalize the academic sub-sector and allow for freedom for university workers.
Following the two new unions’ rejection by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), they had approached Trade Union Congress (TUC) and registered as its affiliates.
Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, CONUA President Niyi Sunmonu said embarking on strike would be counterproductive in the end.
He stated: “We held congresses across our branches nationwide recently, and it was the decision of the members that there is nothing to declare a trade dispute for.
“We also held a meeting with the government team, which included the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, on September 11, 2025.
“We just want the vice-chancellors of various universities and the federal government to respect our decision and take note that CONUA members nationwide are not on strike and we have not declared any.
ASUU demands in students’ interest – NANS
Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, the Public Relations Officer of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Adeyemi Samson, said the ASUU’s demands, “such as improved research and infrastructure development, directly benefit students—not just lecturers.”
He, however, said that all parties must be diplomatic.
“Fortunately, the ASUU president and the NANS president are both from UNIJOS and have been engaging on this issue. No investment in education is a waste.
“We are aware of the longstanding demands of ASUU, and we will reach out to the minister of education and other relevant bodies to ensure the strike is called off.
“We commend the government for keeping the universities open for two years without interruptions, which is commendable. This strike, however, will disrupt the academic calendar, and we are working to avert it,” he stated.
Students interviewed by Daily Trust yesterday expressed mixed feelings over the strike declared by ASUU. While some described it as a disappointing disruption to their academic calendars, others viewed it as an opportunity to rest or prepare for upcoming examinations.
Oluwatosin Silver Oyindamola, a 100-level student of Languages and Linguistics at Nasarawa State University, Keffi, said: “In all honesty, I’m indifferent to the strike, but I don’t want it to happen. We are about to start our exams, and with the strike looming, it means our exams will be shifted. On the other hand, it will afford us more time to prepare. However, those with carryovers or who are due to graduate soon will be affected.”
Aduragbemi Arowoshola, a 400-level Philosophy student at the University of Abuja, described the planned industrial action as ill-timed and deeply inconvenient.
Abdulkadir Umar Ladan, a final-year Pharmacy student at the Gombe State University, described the news of the strike declaration as heart-breaking. “I’ve already lost time due to the COVID-19 break, and now I’m adding another year.”
Fatima Aliyu, a 300-level student of Sociology at the Federal University of Kashere, stated: “Honestly, I support ASUU if the strike will force the government to address the poor conditions in our universities. Our lecture halls are overcrowded, and we lack basic learning materials. If we don’t speak out, nothing will change. Yes, it delays us, but what is the point of rushing through a broken system?”